“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

Luke 16:10 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.16.10.NLT

Effectiveness and impact in life are directly related to being honest and faithful. It begins with little decisions and small choices. Taking each situation and handling it well leads to being trusted with more.  Honesty and faithfulness are quiet and effective ways to grow. Rarely, do these actions make headlines, but make no mistake about it, the impact is real and lasting.

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The temptation is to look for short cuts that introduce dishonesty and cultivate unfaithfulness. It is in those moments where deception and dishonesty can creep in. While rapid success may appear in the short term, dishonesty and unfaithfulness take away from impact and effectiveness.

Dishonesty and unfaithfulness add noise and resistance to good efforts. Deal with these resistors because they will be the great undoing of your work.

On the other hand, honesty and faithfulness cultivate a strong sense of trust and reliability. They build a great foundation that much can be built upon. Efforts and results are reliable and consistent.

Perhaps the biggest challenges to honesty is self-deception. Facing hard truth, seeking candid evaluation of issues and circumstances, and being accountable to others are all great preventative measures to cultivate honesty even in the smallest places of our lives.

Unfaithfulness approaches in times of great success and self-confidence. The deception that one can rise above it is too often embraced.

In leadership, love and life; cultivate honesty and faithfulness. Watch effectiveness and impact quietly grow through implementation of these actions. Be honest and faithful in little things, in big things, and in all things.

Encouragement: Make a list of the ways you are being honest and faithful. Keep that list in front of you as a reminder of the importance of living this way. If dishonesty exists, confess it, make things right and walk forward with honesty.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the foundation of honesty and faithfulness in leadership effectiveness.  Don’t let me ever look past the significance of being honest and faithful in little, big and all things. 

In Your name Jesus, Amen

-Ed McDowell, Executive Director
Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center